Goal for athletic games



D. M. LILLIBRIDGE GOAL FOR ATHLETIC GAMES. APPLICATION FILED JAN- 31,192]. 1,387, 11 8. Pat nted Aug- 9, 1921,

UNITED {sT rss PATEN OFFICE;

DUANE M. rrnmrnnrnen, or ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS- GOAL ron ATHLETIC GAMES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 9, 1921,

Application filed. January 31,1821, I Serial No. 441,351.

To all whom it may concern:

Be, it known that I, DUANE M. LILLIBRIDGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Charles, in the county of Kane andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Goals for Athletic Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to goals for athletic games, such as basket ball and thelike, and

it comprises the combination with a ring of metal adapted to receive the net forming the basket or goal, the ends of said ring being arranged adjacent each other and offset, of a bracket comprising a pair of plates adapted to be arranged above and below the ring, and having depressions or grooves formed'therein to receive the offset ends of the rings, and a flange formed on one of said plates to attach the goal to a wall orother support.

Goalsused for basket ball and similar games wherein a ball is to be thrown through a basket or goal arranged at an elevation must be substantially rigid at their outer or free ends, to preventthe basket from vibrating when a thrown ball hits on the ring. Quite frequently, a basket is thrown or shot which is not a clean shot, The ball frequently hits on the rim of'the basket or is banked from a board arranged behind the basket, and it is desirable to have a basket which will not vibrate in order that equal conditions may prevail at all times.

It has heretofore been found necessary to secure diagonal braces to the sides of the goal or basket to obtain this rigidity. Such diagonal braces add to the cost of the equipment, and are sometimes objectionable because there is no wall or support to which they can be anchored. The bracket, support ing the basket is oftentimes secured to a wall that does not extend to the floor and, under such conditions, these diagonal braces cannot be employed.

In the present invention, I have provided a bracket adapted to be used in combination with the ring forming the basket frame, which is provided with a pair of off-set grooves adapted to receive the off-set ends of the ring The structure furnishes the necessary rigidity, and at the same time eliminates the necessity of diagonalbraces. In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention- In this showing: t

Figure lis a perspective View of the device assembled, r

Fig. 2 is. a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the plates forming the bracket and a portion of the ring, and," r

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the other plate.

Referring to the drawings,'the reference numeral 1 designates generally a substantially circular ring, to which a net of fabric 2, or similar material, is secured. The ends of the ring are off-set, as at 8.

The off-set ends of the ring are adapted to be clamped between a pair of plates 4 and 5, forming a bracket. The lower plate is provided with an angular flange 6, having openings for the reception of screws 7, or other fastening means, whereby it can be secured to a wall. The plates are provided With grooves 8 and 9, which are adapted to register when the plate 5 is arranged over the plate 4-. As shown, the grooves are provided with off-set portions 10 and 11, similar in outline to the ends 3 of the ring, and are adapted to receive these ends. After the parts have been properly assembled with the ring arranged in the grooves, the plates are secured to each other by means of screws or bolts 12.

set portions arranged in the portions 10 and 11 of the grooves, and extending back a considerable distance from the outer edge of the support. The size of the flange 6 is relatively small, whereby the device can be rigidly attached to awall, post, or other support.

In this disclosure, the oflset portions 3 are arranged at the meeting ends of the ring. This construction is advisable in that it is easier to bend the ring 1 at its ends than at any other point. It will be readily apparent, however, that the off-set may arranged at any point in the circumference of the ring, and that an endless ring may be employed.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape,

size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a ring having a body portion and an offset portion arranged in the plane of the body portion, and a net secured thereto, of a bracket comprising a pair of plates, each of said plates being provided with registering grooves corresponding in shape to the offset in said ring and adapted to receive the off-set portion of said ring, and means for securing said plates to each other to retain the ring in said grooves.

2. The combination with a ring having a body portion and an off-set portion arranged in the plane of the body portion, and a net secured thereto, of a bracket" comprising a pair of plates, each of said plates being provided with registeringgrooves shaped to receive said off-set portion of the ring, I

means for securing said plates toveach other, and a flange arranged on one of said plates whereby the bracket may be, secured to a support.

8. A basket ball goal comprising a metal rim formed of a single piece of metal substantially circular in shape, the ends thereof being olf-set in a horizontal plane, a net secured to said rim, and a bracket comprising a pair of plates having grooves shaped to receive said off-sets, means for securing said plates to each other, and means for securing said bracket to a support.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two wltnesses.

DUANE M. LILLIBR-IDGE/ Witnesses:

MARY M. ANDREWS, H, G. HnMPsrEAD. 

